"Y'all gotta wait 7 years" - Mookie Betts drops cold advice to players chasing an MLB World Series
The 2024 All-MLB Awards were announced on Thursday night, and Mookie Betts was named to the All-MLB first team for the fourth time in his career.
He had also won the World Series last month as the Los Angeles Dodgers bagged their eighth championship. Betts rang out a warning to non-Dodger players, saying that it may be several years before they get a chance to win the title.
Mookie Betts won his third World Series ring this year, the most among active players. He earned his maiden title with the Boston Red Sox and his first with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. This year, the Dodgers lived up to their hype as the strongest team in the MLB, with a resilient display in the postseason.
The Dodgers were the only team from the National League to have two players on the 2024 All-MLB first team. Shohei Ohtani was included for the DH position, while Mookie Betts was selected in the outfielder category.
The Japanese superstar was not present for the awards ceremony at the Chelsea Theater in Las Vegas, but Betts was at the venue to collect his award.
"I would say y'all just gotta wait the next seven years," Betts advised the non-Dodgers players at the gala. "After that, then y'all can win. But right now, nah. You just gotta wait."
At the moment, the Dodgers certainly seem to be in a strong position to dominate the league for several years.
"That was easy": Mookie Betts on moving back into right field
Although Mookie Betts won his All-MLB first team selection as an outfielder, he played more than half of his games this year as an infielder.
The Los Angeles Dodgers had decided to move him to shortstop at the start of the season to accommodate all their top sluggers in the lineup. Betts eventually returned to his natural position at right field and remained there till the end of the World Series.
He offered his perspective on his transition to the infield and adapting himself back to the outfield.
"That was easy, going back to the outfield," Betts said.
"The infield, man, that's hard." he added. "But you got to do what you got to do. Players [have] got to play."
Betts is an eight-time All-Star and was also named the American League MVP in 2018. He's widely considered to be the best right fielder in the game, winning seven Silver Sluggers and six Gold Gloves in that position.